Wandering barefoot across the massive, open pavilion of Senjokaku Hall on Miyajima Island, I was entirely humbled by the feeling of the 500-year-old wood beneath my feet. I knelt down to capture this close-up detail of the floorboards, where centuries of passing pilgrims have quietly polished the rough timber to a soft, weathered shine. Sunlight slanted through the vast wooden structure, casting deep, deliberate shadows that traced the heavy grain and deep history of the building. Sitting in that breezy, open space, the sheer weight of time felt completely tangible. I took this photograph to hold onto the simple beauty of ancient craftsmanship, resting quietly in the autumn sun, just as it had done for all these centuries.
Senjokaku Hall, Itsukushima, Miyajima Island, Japan, 2017
